Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com

CANDLE MAGIC
1 One of the simplest of magical arts which comes under
the heading of natural magic is candle burning. It is simple
because it employs little ritual and few ceremonial
artifacts. The theatrical props of candle magic can be
purchased at any department store and its rituals can be
practiced in any sitting room or bedroom.
2 Most of us have performed our first act of candle magic
by the time we are two years old. Blowing out the tiny
candles on our first birthday cake and making a wish is pure
magic. This childhood custom is based on the three magical
principals of concentration, will power and visualization.
In simple terms, the child who wants his wish to come true
has to concentrate (blow out the candles), visualize the end
result (make a wish) and hope that it will come true( will
power).
3 The size and shape of the candles you use is
unimportant, although highly decorative, extra large, or
unusually shaped candles will not be suitable as these may
create distractions when the magician wants to concentrate on
the important work in hand. Most magicians prefer to use
candles of standard or uniform size if possible. Those which
are sold in different colors for domestic use are ideal.
4 The candles you use for any type of magical use should
be virgin, that is unused. Under no circumstances use a
candle which has already adorned a dinner table or been used
as a bedroom candle or night-light. There is a very good
occult reason for not using anything but virgin materials in
magic. Vibrations picked up by secondhand materials or
equipment may disturb your workings and negate their
effectiveness.
5 Some magicians who are artistically inclined prefer to
make their own candles for ritual and magical use. This is a
very practical exercise because not only does it impregnate
the candle with your own personal vibrations, but the mere
act of making your own candle is magically potent.
Specialist shops sell candle wax and molds together with
wicks, perfumes, and other equipment.
6 The hot wax is heated until liquid and then poured into
the mould through which a suitably sized wick has already
been threaded. The wax is then left to cool and once is this
has occurred the mould is removed , leaving a perfectly formed
candle. Special oil-soluble dyes and perfumes can be added
to the wax before the cooling process is complete to provide
suitable colors and scents for a particular magical ritual.
Craft shops which sell candlemaking supplies can also provide
do-it-yourself books explaining the technicalities of the art
to the beginner.
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7 Once you have purchased or made your ritual candle it
has to be oiled or 'dressed' before burning. The purpose of
dressing the candle is to establish a psychic link between it
and the magician through a primal sensory experience. By
physically touching the candle during the dressing
procedure, you are charging it with our own personal
vibrations and also concentrating the desire of your magical
act into the wax. The candle is becoming an extension of the
magician's mental power and life energy.
8 When you dress a candle for magical use, imagine that
it is a psychic magnet with a North and a South pole. Rub
the oil into the candle beginning at the top or North end and
work downwards to the half-way point. Always brush in the
same direction downwards. This process is then repeated by
beginning at the bottom or south end and working up to the
middle.
9 The best type of oils to use for dressing candles are
natural ones which can be obtained quite easily. Some occult
suppliers will provide candle magic oils with exotic names.
If the magician does not want to use these, he can select
suitable oils or perfumes from his own sources. The oils
soluble perfumes sold by craft shops for inclusion in candles
can be recommended.
10 the candles you use can be colored in accordance with
the following magical uses:
white- spirituality and peace.
red- health,energy,strength,courage, sexual potency.
pink- love affection and romance.
yellow- intellectualism, imagination, memory and
creativity
green- fertility, abundance, good luck and harmony
blue-inspiration, occult wisdom, protection and
devotion
purple Material wealth, higher psychic ability,
spiritual power and idealism
silver- clairvoyance, inspiration, astral energy and
intuition
orange- ambition. career matters and the law.
11 If you wanted to use candle magic for healing, you would
select a red candle to burn. To pass an exam, burn a yellow
candle, to gain esoteric knowledge burn a blue candle or for
material gain, burn a purple one. It is obvious these
colors relate to the signs of the zodiac and the planetary
forces.
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12 The simples form of candle magic is to write doesn't the
objective of your ritual on a virgin piece of paper. You
can use color paper which matches the candle. Write your
petition on the paper using a magical alphabet, such as
theban, enochian, malachain,etc. As you write down what you
want to accomplish through candle magic-- a new job, healing
for a friend, a change of residence, a new love affair,
etc.-- visualize your dream coming true. Visualize the
circumstances under which you might be offered a new job,
imagine your employer telling you that your salary has been
increased or conjure up a vision of your perfect love
partner.
13 When you have completed writing down your petitio,
carefully fold up the paper in a deliberately slow fashion.
Place the end of the folded paper in the candle flame and set
light to it. As you do this concentrate once more on what
you want from life.
14 When you have completed your ritual, allow the candle to
have completely burned away. You do not need to stay with
the candle after the ritual, but make sure that is safe
and that red-hot wax will not cause damage or fire. Never
re-use a candle which has been lit in any magical ritual. IT
should only be used in that ritual and then allowed to burn
away or be disposed of afterwards.
15 If you are conducting a magical ritual which involves
two people (e.g. an absent healing for a person some distance
away) then the second person can be symbolically
represented during the ritual by another candle. /all you
need to do is find out the subject's birth date and burn the
appropriate candle for that zodiacal sign. These are as
follows-
ARIES red
TAURUS green
GEMINI yellow
CANCER silver
LEO orange
VIRGO yellow
LIBRA pink
SCORPIO red
SAGITARIUS purple
CAPRICORN black
AQUARIUS all colors
PISCES mauve
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